Effect of Social Media on Mental Health of Students

Abstract

Andriya Brigiht. Effect of social media on mental health of students. Bachelor thesis. Supervisor – assist. Jovita Demskyte. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Faculty of Nursing, Department of Nursing, Kaunas 2023; 40 p. Research aim: To evaluate weather usage of social media effects the mental health of students. Goals: 1. To assess whether social media has any influence on student sleep time. 2. To assess whether social media has any effect on students' mental health. 3. To assess if social media has any beneficial effects on students. Research methodology: The objects of bachelor’s thesis research were the international students from Nursing Faculty at LSMU. The Dean of the Nursing Faculty and LSMU center of Bioethics granted the permission to conduct the research. The total population of the selected faculty was 67 out of which 40 participated in the research. The survey was constructed by the author of the thesis. It consisted of 22 questions. All the questions were mandatory. The results were analyzed using MS Excel and IBM SPSS. Chi- square test was used to compare the variables. Research results: The survey respondents were mostly female, accounting for 70% of the participants. The majority of the respondents belonged to the age group of 18-25 years old (90%). In terms of their academic background, 65% were studying for a BSc in Nursing, while 22.5% were studying Occupational Therapy, and 12.5% were studying Physiotherapy. In terms of the year of study, 37.5% were in their first year, 20% were in their second year, 25% were in their third year, and 17.5% were in their fourth year. The majority of the respondents consumed movies and TV shows (55%) and interacted with friends and family (52.5%) on social media. Chi-square test was done to compare between sleeping hours, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and time spent on social media. There was correlation between all these variables. Conclusion: 1. Survey results suggest that social media use may be negatively impacting the sleep patterns of students. Inadequate sleep can lead to a range of physical and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression in students. Social media use before bedtime can also increase cognitive arousal, making it more difficult for people to relax and fall asleep. Using social media before sleep result in poor sleep hygiene. 2. It can be argued that social media has a negative impact on the mental health of the students. Excessive use of social media can lead to reduced productivity, loss of sleep, and increased levels of anxiety and depression. For the benefit of students mental health, it is crucial to be aware of the drawbacks of social media and take action to restrict our usage of it. 3. There are several positive impacts of social media such as; keeping up with current events, staying connected with friends and family, Reducing tension and enhancing mood, suggesting that social media can be a source of entertainment and enjoyment.